Staten Island animal doc hit with sex suit

A Staten Island veterinarian who is widely regarded in the community for placing pets, and their owners, at ease when they are in his care now finds himself engulfed in a lurid sexual harassment case, according to a published report.

Dr. Robert Cohen, who owns the Bay Street Animal Hospital in Rosebank as well as another practice in Suffolk County, has been sued by a former employee who claims that he subjected her to stories about his "uncontrollable panties fetish" and then sent her lewd photos from a cell-phone camera.

Denise Overbeck, a 46-year-old single mother, told the Daily News that she was fired from her $12-an-hour job at the clinic after she told Dr. Cohen, 56, that she was fed up with their relationship, which she claims included having sex inside an animal hospital.

It is not clear if Ms. Overbeck worked at Dr. Cohen's Staten Island or Suffolk County location. Dr. Cohen opened his practice on Staten Island in 2002.

According to the suit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Dr. Cohen allegedly talked about his fetishes incessantly, telling Ms. Overbeck, "tell me something sexy just to get me started and then get to work" after exposing himself to her.

The suit also alleges that when Ms. Overbeck approached Dr. Cohen after another employee confronted her after seeing Dr. Cohen grope her, he allegedly told Ms. Overbeck, "They are just envious. The wish they were [expletive] me."